Toronto High School Athletic Hall of Fame Members
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Toronto High School Athletic Hall of Fame Members George “Gabby” Kunzler HOF Class of 2000 George “Gabby” Kunzler was a three-year starter in baseball, football, and basketball. He was All-Ohio his senior year as a quarterback and pitched Toronto to the Ohio State Championship in baseball. Mr. Kunzler was a 1925 THS graduate. He attended St. Francis College in Laredo, Pennsylvania where again he was a three sports star earning many honors including All-Eastern quarterback. Gabby returned to his alma mater in 1930 and assumed coaching in the three sports in which he excelled. In 27 years of basketball at THS, he had only one losing season. During his coaching tenure at THS his teams amassed over 400 victories. He was elected to membership in the Ohio Coaches Hall of Fame and the Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Hall of Fame. When Gabby died in January 1973, he had served THS for 43 years. The gym continues to bear the name of George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium in his honor. Clarke Hinkle HOF Class of 2000 Clarke Hinkle was a 1927 graduate of Toronto High School. He was “Mr. Football” Ohio All State Football. Clarke was also All-American from Bucknell University and All Everything at Green Bay Packers including an induction into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. Clarke was enshrined into 10 additional Halls of Fame. Clarke was honored with the Scholar Athlete/Citizen Award sponsored by the Fort Steuben Mall Association. He was honored with the naming of his hometown high school field as Clarke Hinkle Field. In 1997, the Green Bay Packers primary practice field was named Clark Hinkle Field which shows the great respect still held for him in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Paul Kalivoda HOF Class of 2000 Paul Kalivoda was a 1938 graduate of Toronto High School. He played four years at Toronto High School as an outstanding football tackle. He lettered three years in football and wrestling at Ohio University. Paul served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and then started his long and distinguished coaching and teaching career. He became athletic director at THS in 1973 and earned many honors. In 1983, he was named Eastern Ohio District Athletic Director of the Year and was inducted into the Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Hall of Fame as well as the Ohio High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. Thomas Kinkade HOF Class of 2000 Thomas Kinkade, a Class of 1938 graduate, was an All-State football and basketball player at THS. Coach Kunzler described Kinkade by simply saying, “He’s the best high school basketball player I ever saw.” In a 82-31 defeat of Midland, Pa., Kinkade scored a school-record 52 points on 23 goals and six free throws. It was the second highest Ohio Valley effort at the time and lasted as a school record for 30 years. A quarterback in football, Kinkade was recruited by The Ohio State University, and was a three-year letterman, two-way regular as a running back-linebacker on teams that finished 6-2 Big Ten Conference champions in 1939, and were 6-1-1 in 1941 under first-year coach Paul Brown. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1942. Kinkade went on to coach and teach in Ohio and in California. Toronto High School Athletic Hall of Fame Members Bill Peterson HOF Class of 2000 Bill Peterson, Class of 1939, was an outstanding high school student, football player, and a graduate of Ohio Northern University. He wanted to become a coach from the time he was a youngster, and he overcame great obstacles in order to achieve his dreams. Peterson had his first major college position as offensive line coach at Louisiana State under Paul Dietzel. As head coach of the Florida State Seminoles, the team attained a 62-41-11 record with many honors such as the victory over Oklahoma in the 1964 Gator Bowl. He also served as Athletic Director at Rice University. Peterson was one of the first college coaches to employ a pro-style offense and his teams developed a national reputation for an exciting offense with rock-ribbed defenses. Bill Peterson was head coach of the NFL’s Houston Oilers for two seasons. Harry E. Tarr HOF Class of 2000 Harry E. Tarr was a coach and teacher at Toronto High School from 1943 to 1963 he taught woodshop, machine shop, and drafting. Coach Harry Tarr started Toronto's track program in 1946 with his woodshop students building the first hurdles in the school shop. It was not long until Toronto High School was dominating track in the Upper Ohio Valley from 1951 through 1954 his teams were unbeaten and won the invitational as well. His boys began to place higher at district and state levels. In 1954, George Deiderich attained second place in the state and high hurdles. His THS stadium record stood until 1998. Coach Tarr’s thin clads went on to set new Ohio Valley records such as Bob Vogel (shot put), John Burnett (mile), and Roy Walker (pole vault). In 1963, Coach Tarr’s team reach the coveted goal of OVAC champs. John Karaffa HOF Class of 2000 John M. Karaffa was a graduate in the THS Class of 1947. He was an athlete from a very young age. He lettered in football, baseball, basketball, and track all four years at THS. John went to The Ohio State University to play baseball and basketball. He made the varsity basketball team his sophomore year, and the team won the Big Ten championship. He was team captain his senior year. After serving in the US Air Force, John returned to coach and teach at East Liverpool High School. He moved to Indianapolis in 1960 where he retired as a coach and teacher after 32 years. Paul Bucey HOF Class of 2000 Paul Bucey, a graduate of the THS Class of 1948, lettered all four years in football, basketball, and baseball. He was named All-State in football and basketball his senior year at THS. Paul received a football scholarship to The Ohio State University where he played football and basketball before being drafted into the military service. Upon discharge from the service, Paul located in Corpus Christi, Texas where he worked and played semi-pro sports and coached until his retirement. Toronto High School Athletic Hall of Fame Members George R. Deiderich HOF Class of 2000 George R. Deiderich graduated from THS in 1954. He played football, basketball, and track earning varsity letters for three years in every sport. George was selected on All- Star teams in each sport. George attended Valley Forge Military Academy from 1954- 1955 where he became 1st Team All-Conference in all three sports. He attended Vanderbilt University from 1955-1959 where he became 1st Team All- American in 1958. George played professional football in Canada in 1959, 1960 and 1961. George retired from the Lipton tea company in 1991. Don Sutherin HOF Class of 2000 Don Sutherin graduated from THS in 1954. There's no way to list all of Don’s accomplishments here. He was a four-year letterman THS in football, baseball, basketball, and track. Don was a four-year letterman at The Ohio State University where he kicked the winning field goal in the 1958 Rose Bowl. Don’s professional football playing and coaching career included time with such teams as the Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger Cats, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants among others. Don has either played or coached his entire life, and all with great success. Arthur Robertson HOF Class of 2000 Arthur Robertson, a 1958 graduate of Toronto High School, was an outstanding athlete at THS. Playing football, track, and basketball, Arthur earned seven combined letters. His junior year he gained 1,016 yards, 1,885 combined total yards, and scored 8 touchdowns for 49 points. Art received Honorable Mention OVAC All-Star his senior year and played in the OVAC All-Star game. While earning many honors as a player, Art was best remembered as coach and co-founder of the Toronto Titans football program. He led the Titan program for 15 years. His successes as Titan coach go on and on and his influence is still felt today. Thomas “Chip” Coulter HOF Class of 2000 Thomas “Chip” Coulter, a 1964 graduate of Toronto High School, played baseball, basketball, and track all four years at THS and lettered in the same. Chip was “All Ohio” in baseball and basketball his senior year. He is the all-time leading THS basketball scorer with 1,580 points (before the introduction of the three-point shot). Chip was signed to a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. He played six years with the Cards. Chip was traded to the New York Mets where he played one year and then retired from baseball. Toronto High School Athletic Hall of Fame Members Jon R. Smith HOF Class of 2000 Jon was a student-athlete at THS, participating in football golf, and a Varsity “T” Club member for 3 years. Jon attended the Ohio University after graduation from Toronto High School. While attending O.U., Jon found his niche and the seeds for his future. He became involved in the University’s Sports Medicine Programs. In 1977, he was certified by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the New York State Athletic Trainer’s Association. He has 27 years of experience (5 years college and 18 years on the professional level in pro hockey).